One of Barbados’ most ambitious competitive domino squads, De Bajan Travelers, is gearing up to deliver a standout performance at the upcoming FEMUNDO World Domino Championships, scheduled to run from October 28 to November 2 in the Dominican Republic. This annual elite tournament draws hundreds of top domino players from across the globe, with approximately 500 athletes competing across three distinct divisions: individual, four-person team, and pairs play.\n\nFor De Bajan Travelers, competing in high-profile international domino events has become a yearly tradition, rooted in a mission far broader than just chasing trophies. Team president Alicia Harewood outlined the group’s core goals ahead of the 2024 tournament: to grow awareness of 200-style dominoes, encourage new participants to learn the variant, test the team’s skill against the world’s best players, and secure a place on the podium to claim the event’s prize money.\n\nThis year, Barbados will field one of the largest national contingents in the team’s history, a marked shift from 2023 when the squad hosted the tournament and competed with a much smaller roster. Currently boasting 55 registered members, De Bajan Travelers expects all but roughly six members to make the trip to the Dominican Republic, and has added extra participants to bring the total delegation size to an estimated 60 athletes.\n\nTeam vice president Eric recalled the squad’s strong showing at the 2023 tournament, when the small but mighty delegation outperformed expectations to claim multiple top placements. “We took home the individual title, finished second in the four-person team competition, and had three to four individual players rank in the top 12 overall,” Lewis explained. This year, the team is aiming to build on that 2023 success and climb even higher in the rankings.\n\nSending a 60-person delegation to the international tournament requires substantial financial backing, so the team has already launched a series of community fundraising initiatives to cover travel and entry costs. Upcoming events include a three-hand domino tournament kicking off June 29, which will open with four preliminary rounds before moving to an elimination bracket to determine winners, followed by a fundraising cruise scheduled for September 25. Harewood noted that the squad is also actively seeking additional financial support from local sponsors and community partners to help the large contingent reach the starting line in October.